Tester Secures More Than $1.2 Million for Butte’s Bert Mooney Airport

Funding comes from the Senator’s bipartisan infrastructure law

As a direct result of his bipartisan infrastructure law, U.S. Senator Jon Tester secured $1,277,260 for Bert Mooney Airport in Butte. This funding will go towards upgrades that will improve traveler experience, including a new passenger boarding bridge and new snow removal equipment to clear the airfield during adverse weather conditions.

This funding comes from Tester’s bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Tester negotiated the IIJA with a group of five Republicans, four Democrats, and President Biden, and was the only member of Montana’s congressional delegation to support the legislation.

“Montana’s a big state that relies on airports to ensure Montanans can see their families and friends, run their businesses, and stay connected with the rest of the country,” said Tester. “That’s why I’m continuing to work to ensure federal dollars from my bipartisan infrastructure law are delivering for communities like Butte. I’m proud to have secured this funding to make vital upgrades at Butte’s Bert Mooney Airport, and I’ll continue working to ensure Montana’s airports have the resources they need to thrive.”

Tester has led the charge to upgrade Montana’s airport infrastructure. He previously secured approximately $144 million for Montana’s airports through the IIJA, which will be awarded over five years between 2022 and 2026. This funding can be used to construct or repair runways and taxiways as well as make terminal and gate improvements. Tester has also led the effort to lower costs and expand access to reliable air service in rural communities. 

In May, Tester successfully included key priorities to increase affordable air service in legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), including the Small Community Air Service Enhancement Act that will help small airports compete for grants to attract new air carrier service to their communities and reauthorization of the Essential Air Service program (EAS) to ensure Montana’s rural communities continue to have airline service options connecting them to larger hubs.